UK pig slaughtering 2% down in March

British pork production is still under heavy pressure, as can be seen in
the rising number of boar and sow slaughterings. Total number of pigs slaughtered
in the UK is on the decline, Dutch agricultural newspaper Agrarisch Dagblad
reports.

The British Department for Environment, Forestry and Rural Affairs (Defra)
reported that in March, the number of pigs slaughtered was 698,000, about 2%
lower than one year ago.

Quarterly resultsIn the first three
months, the total number of pigs slaughtered was 2.3 million, a touch more than
one year earlier, when numbers added up to 2.2 million.

The higher
production in the first quarter, however, is a result of higher production in
the months of January and February. In January, number of slaughterings was 6%
higher, in February 2%.

The number of sows and boars being slaughtered
has increased in the last couple of months. In January they grew by 46% to
28,000, in February, again a rise in comparison to 2007 by 40% to 23,000 and
March saw a growth of 18% to 21,000 animals.

Total pigmeat production in
the first quarter ended up higher. Total bacon production was lower, it
decreased to 41,000 tonnes.